[poinq]

You are wrong about the first cousin thing. Cousins often married until the last 100 years. Laws started showing up in the late 1800’s But I assure you there were lots of first cousins, and cousins once removed that were prominent as well as hill-billy. Just read a Jane Austin book.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Bingo!

[Dansong]

Anyone care to guess what Eleanor Roosevelt’s maiden name was????

[NorthstarMom]

Yes. I enjoy British literature, but even Agatha Christie novels have first cousins marrying. It’s disturbing every time.

[Twinkie]

We used to go to a family reunion when I was a kid where a
2nd cousin once-removed and I would go walking across a
bridge and play cards. No attraction & nothing that ever
occurred to me or him as far as I know. - My dad put
the kibash on that; it was too close kin in his judgment.
I agree.

[JimRed]

But I assure you there were lots of first cousins, and cousins once removed that were prominent as well as hill-billy.

A way of keeping the family wealth in the family in many cultures. Not real good for the offspring, though!